Buckle for cotton-ties.



L. w. SWAPFORD. BUCKLE F011 ooTToN msi.' PPLIUATION FILED 1111.116, 1909. 980,700. l Parente@ Jan. s, 1911.

@Vi/Wow 6L Mumia,

UNITED STATES PATENT oPPIcE.

LEVI w. swAFPoRD, or vIcKsBu'R@'IvIIssIssIPPL .erssIGNoIt or' GNEJIALF '.Io BENJAMIN w. GRIFFITH, 0F vIc'KsPuuIte,l MISSISSIPPI.

BUCKLE FOR COTTON-TIES;

esonoo.

Specification of Letters"Patent.

Paten-ted' J arr. i 3,4 19115".

Appiication med February 2e, 1909: seria-I No; 486,092.

To' all whom if may concern:-

Be it known that I, LEvI'W. S\vA1'FoRD,y of

Vicksburg, in the county of Va-rren and' in the State of Mississippi, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bucklesfor Cotton-Ties, &c., and dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

h/Iy invention relates to buckles intended especially for the ties or bands of cotton bales but suitable for other purposes, and

relates to the type of buckles in which a box,

held, and to this end my invention consistsI in the buckle having theV characteristics of construction substantially as hereinafter specified and claimed.

Referring to the annexed drawings, Figure l is a perspective view showing a buckle embodying my invention applied .to the overlapping ends of a cotton, balejtieyFig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionthereof; andA Fig. 3 is a detail view in perspective' of the box and locking roller and its controlling and guiding device separated from each other.

In the embodiment of my invention, which I illustrate in the drawings, the box A is of metal of suitable strength, and is open from end to end for the passage therethrough longitudinally of the straps, bands or things to be buckled or clamped, and it has two opposite walls that converge or incline toward each other from one end to the other to produce a chamber in the box that is tapering or wedge-shape, which box constitutes one member of my buckle. The other member consists of a roll D having a length less than the width of the box, so that the roll may when placed within the box, with its axis extending transversely thereof, play freely or loosely therein so as to quickly move lengthwise thereof either in the direction toward the narrow or contracted end of the box chamber to engage one of the converging walls thereof, with its periphery, and diametrically opposite the engaging point to engage with its periphery one of the overlapping tie or band ends G to press it against the other overlapping tie or band end F, and press the latter against the opposing' contiguous wallV of the box t'o bind or clamp the` parts together; or to move toward the wider end ofthe chamber-when'it is desired to unbuckle or vrelease the parts.'

Preferably, the'surface of theroll is rough'- `ened as by a file fini'sh or'corrugations, inl

order to cause it to securely bite into the sur'- faces of thebuckle and strap ojrx band it impinges upon. Since of necessity thelength of the rollv is sufficiently lessA than the transverse dimension of' the box chanfber from `side to side, in order toaEor'd the desired freedom or looseness of the roll requisite to enable itv to moveV lengthwise of the box chamber, it is essential tov provide sonuefc'on-Y trolling or guiding means for theroll that will preventl it getting accidentally askew or oblique in the chamber.

To secure the properbinding or locking action of the roll, as well as to render easy its movement for unbuckling or releasing the parts, it is requisite that the roll occupy' a position with its axis at' right? angles to the length of the strap or tie passingthrou'gh` the buckle. I secure these requisites forV thel properaction lof the rollby providing it with a cont-rolling or guiding means which in the embodiment of my invention shown consists of a short sheet metal plate B that constitutes a sort of tail or appendage to the roll, which is pivotally connected there` to so that it extends from the roll through the box toward the larger end of the chamber thereof, and which chiefly by the engagement of its edges with the side walls of the chamber preserves the roll in its desired position.

A convenient way of attaching the rollguiding plate to the roll is by the forma-tion or provision at about the transverse center of the roll of an annular groove or depression into which is seated or tted a tongue E formed on one edge of the plate B, and bent into a circular form. My roll-controlling or guiding means is not onlywholly efficient in the performance of its function, but is simple and inexpensive, requiring no special formation of the box for its use, a thing of importance in the manufacture of the box and in the assembling of the parts. Preferably means are provided for preventing the accidental escape of the roll from the box. A very simple and efficient means which I have invented for this purpose is that shown in the drawings, which consists in bending the free end of the roll guiding or controlling plate B upward and forward `at the small end of the box so that it will overlap the latter, and thus while allowing all required backward and forward movement of the roll and the plate for locking and un locking purposes will nevertheless prevent 1Ehe accidental escape of the roller from the As must be evident, a buckle of the type to which my invention relates possesses very important advantages, especially in the matter of securing the bands or ties of cotton bales. The locking or securing action of the buckle is automatically produced, for the buckle is so applied that it comes at the side of the bale with the larger end of the metal box upward, so that gravity is utilized to produce a tendency of the roll to move to locking position. Yet to release the buckle, for example, after the bale has been made at the country or plantation press and it is to be rendered more dense by the compress, a smart blow of a hammer on the relaxed tie is all that is necessary to displace the roll from locking position. With a buckle of this description, bales of more uniformity and greater density can be produced; the accidental slippingof the tie in transportation from the compress to seaport is impossible; and as a press with plain or smooth platen and follower, that is, one with no grooves in either platen or follower, can be used, when bands or ties provided with my buckles are employed, not only can a greater density of the bales be secured, but the damage to the cotton from the use of grooves in the platen and follower is avoided. Considering the value and importance of a buckle of this type, the value and importance of means for rendering it completely dependable or reliable and practical, will be realized.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. A buckle comprising a box having converging inner walls, a roll loose in the box, and a box wall-engaging appendage to the roll, pivotally connected therewith interme diate the ends of the roll, said appendage consisting of a plate having a tongue engaging a groove in the roll.

2. A buckle comprising a box having con verging inner walls, a roll, and means attached to and moving with the roll controlling the position thereof in the box, said means consisting of an appendage to the roll adapted to engage the side walls of the box, said appendage being extended outside the box to engage the end thereof to prevent the roll escaping from the box.

8. A buckle comprising a box having converging inner walls, ay roll loose in the box, and a box wall-engaging appendage to the roll, pivotally connected therewith intermediate its ends, and having its end opposite that connected with the roll bent to overlap the outside of the box.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

LEVI W. SWAFFORD.

Witnesses J. G. HIcKMoN, GEO. WILLIAMSON. 

